Merrill Lake report

trout chaser · 10-22-2003, 04:52 PM

I had a great time yesterday casting a yellow woolly bugger from shore. The browns & cutts were aggressively striking. I would cast out, then immediatley start a very fast strip retrieve. Some of the browns just about yanked the rod out of my hands. I even managed a to catch a few on a dry (termite pattern). The cutts were in the 11-12" range and the browns were a thick 13"-16". There were numerous other bigger fish making some splashy rises.

Yes I Am · 10-22-2003, 05:05 PM

Man, does that sound like fun. I haven't fly fished up there for over 6 years. Thanks for the post!

Yes I Am

Rodwavr · 10-22-2003, 09:15 PM

What size Wooly Bugger were you using and was it all yellow or the version with the grizzly hackle. I've been thinking of going up there next week weather permitting.

trout chaser · 10-23-2003, 06:13 AM

I was using a size 8 bugger. It had a yellow marabou tail w/3strands of crystal flash, yellow chenille, yellow hackle and an orange thread head. I think the fast strip retrieve was more important than the color. Also the gate is closed to the campground/launch for the winter.

Rodwavr · 10-23-2003, 06:23 AM

Thanks Trout Chaser. I can't remember how far it is fromn the gate to the launch. Can you give me a rough idea. I had a heart attack recently and I have to be careful about how far I walk.

trout chaser · 10-23-2003, 03:29 PM

I think it's around a 1/4 mile at most. About a 100 yards of that is downhill in/uphill out.

Rodwavr · 10-23-2003, 03:53 PM

Thanks for the info trout chaser.